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Ant McPartlin 'given a year off' by ITV as he recovers from substance addiction

Ant McPartlin has checked into rehab for drugs and alcohol abuse following an emotional chat with his co-star, Declan Donnelly, and his wife, Lisa Armstrong.

Ant is expected to stay in rehab for at least two months, with no visitors and no mobile phone access.

And and Dec could end up separating for the first time in over two decades.
And and Dec could end up separating for the first time in over two decades.

Now it has been reported that ITV are willing to give him an entire year off work in order to support his recovery – which means that Dec might end up fronting their shows, such as I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!, alone for the first time in over two decades.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, a source explained that ITV do not want to rush Ant, sharing: “Formally, Ant has no work commitments until November and obviously the hope is that he will be completely better by then, and able to fulfil theme.

“But ITV will not rush him in any way, and the feeling is he must take as long as he needs.

Ant is due to present I’m A Celeb alongside Dec in November.
Ant is due to present I’m A Celeb alongside Dec in November.

“If he wants a 12-month sabbatical, frankly he deserves it. The sense is though that both Ant and Dec love working, and Ant will want to get back down to work before the end of the year.”

Every November Ant and Dec jet off to Australia for several weeks of filming for I’m A Celeb, with the duo returning to the UK shortly before Christmas.

After that, the pair’s scheduled commitments include Saturday Night Takeaway and Britain’s Got Talent, with both due to start filming in February 2018.

Ant’s wife, Lisa, is standing by him.
Ant’s wife, Lisa, is standing by him.

Ant’s addiction to prescription painkillers began when he suffered a botched knee operation two years ago, leaving him in constant agony.

The pain reportedly left him hooked on Tramadol, with the star also using alcohol in a bid to numb the pain.

Although Ant’s close friends, including Dec, were concerned that something was wrong with their pal, nobody knew the extent of his struggles until he broke down and confessed all at the weekend – just days after he had another operation on his knee, leaving him in a wheelchair for at least six weeks.

It is thought that Dec was instrumental in contacting counsellors to get Ant the help that he needs, with the Geordie presenter thanking fans for their support on his and Ant’s joint Twitter page on Sunday.

Read more:

[ Declan Donnelly breaks his silence as Ant McPartlin checks into rehab ]

[ Ant McPartlin and wife Lisa’s secret baby heartache ]

[ Ant McPartlin checks into rehab ]